Fellows Manager, West Africa Fellows Program at Acumen

About The Role

Acumen is hiring a Fellowship Manager to lead the delivery of the Climate-Focused Fellowship in West Africa under Green RISE Africa.

• This is a program leadership role that blends strategy, facilitation, operations, community building, and ecosystem engagement. The Fellowship Manager will ensure a high-quality, transformational Fellow experience while strengthening systems, partnerships, and cross-pillar alignment.
• The ideal candidate is a proactive leader, strong executor, skilled facilitator, and thoughtful relationship-builder who thrives in fast-paced environments and is deeply motivated by leadership development and climate-driven impact.

Key Responsibilities

Fellowship Strategy, Delivery & Facilitation

• Lead end-to-end delivery of the Climate-Focused Fellowship in West Africa
• Develop annual Fellowship workplans aligned with Green RISE Africa objectives
• Co-design and co-facilitate immersive seminars and virtual learning labs
• Ensure curriculum adaptation reflects regional climate realities and youth-in-work pathways
• Serve as primary point of contact and trusted advisor to Fellows throughout the program year
• Maintain high standards of learning experience, and community cohesion
• Support Fellows’ transition into the Foundry community post-graduation

Outreach, Recruitment & Selection

• Lead recruitment strategy across priority West African countries in collaboration with Marketing & Communication team
• Build and nurture strong pipelines through ecosystem actors, alumni, partners, and climate networks
• Represent Acumen Academy at ecosystem events and partner engagements
• Own the end-to-end selection process, ensuring rigor, transparency, diversity, and alignment with program objectives and targets

Foundry Coordination & Community Engagement

• Support coordination and oversight of Foundry community engagement activities in West Africa
• Work with the Foundry Lead to ensure Fellows transition smoothly into alumni engagement pathways
• Contribute to planning of regional gatherings, peer learning sessions, and ecosystem convenings
• Strengthen community cohesion across cohorts and pillars

Program Operations & Team Coordination

• Own Fellowship planning, timelines, budgets, logistics, communications, and documentation
• Coordinate closely with cross-functional teams (Impact & Insights, Content & Curriculum, Marketing & Communications etc.)
• Improve operational systems and tools for efficient program delivery
• Contribute to overall coordination and execution within the West Africa Academy team

Reporting, Learning & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate program data and ensure timely reporting against Green RISE Africa targets
• Track Fellow engagement, learning outcomes, and youth-in-work contribution pathways
• Lead preparation of impact summaries, donor reporting inputs, and learning documentation
• Surface insights and recommendations to strengthen future Fellowship cycles
• Contribute to refining the Fellowship’s role within the broader capital continuum

Ecosystem & Partnership Engagement

• Build relationships with ecosystem partners, ESOs, funders, and advisory organizations
• Support partnership conversations aligned with Fellowship growth and Green RISE Africa objectives
• Identify collaboration opportunities that strengthen pathways for Fellows post-program

Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in program leadership and management, preferably in leadership development, climate, entrepreneurship, or social impact
• Demonstrated experience owning complex, multi-phase programs end-to-end
• Strong facilitation skills
• Familiarity with social entrepreneurs and the social impact ecosystem in West Africa
• Strong stakeholder and partnership management skills
• Excellent organizational and project management capabilities
• Experience managing budgets and coordinating across teams
• Strong data literacy and reporting skills
• Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities
• Self-reflective and strongly aligned with Acumen’s values
• Permanently authorized to work in Lagos, Nigeria